Sequence switch device



Jan. 31, 1950 D. w. JOHNSON 2,496,164

SEQUENCE SWITCH DEVICE Filed April 1, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 U Inveniar 35 44 DAVID W.JOHNSON {97w}? aZZar-neya MMM Jan. 31, 1950 w, JOHNSON 2,496,164

SEQUENCE SWITCH DEVICE Filed April 1, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n Iv 77% n w .[hveniar DAVID W. JOHNSON Q9 7111? aZ-Zar ne ys MMg/M Patented Jan. 31, 1950 SEQUENCE SWITCH DEVICE David W. Johnson, New Britain, Conn,, assignor to The Arrow-Hart & Hegemann Electric Co n pany, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Con nectieut Application April-1, 1946, Serial No. 658,621

6 Cla ms, 1,,

his nven ion rel es ele ri sw ch mech: anisms or, more particularly, to electric switch mechanisms for operatinga series of switches or switchrcontaots in sequence to carry out a pr detenmine v la or rogr m n a leo r 5 ir it.

I is ano ie o h s n n n, o prov e a mechanism for operating several electric switche or switch contacts in sequence to carry out a prog am, a d o re u e mpl i n f. the p o: am, y s d e ntial. o e at o be o any permanent position of the device can be achieved.

Another ob ec of he inv nt on sto Pro i or re n he equ nce a s c er; the fo e oin type, an o qu re a c m et re l of the se ue ce befo ea p iousper e ent pos t on of the. d yioe an b reestablis d- Another object is to provide a mechanism for a h eving hefor in ob e s i wh ch he grom e carried t a any des red eg ar or irregular rate.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for ach eving the io go nsobie w ich e r s elf to. the h nn s o a y n n eon which it has bee sta t d f hat sequ n (wheth an n l r a evers l o a p e ous equen e) s. not carried to completion.

Other objects and advantages'of the invention will ap ar as it is d scribed in the ac ompany drawings.

Inthe drawings? c F g, 1 is as de elevation View f the n tion;

Fig, 2 is atransverse section View of the invention llust ated inFigthe section bein ta e along line 2.-v-2 of Fig. 1;

Fi 3 is a bottom pla v ewotthe invention;

Fi 4. is a ansverse ectionv iew oi e n en on,v he section heingc ken a ong ine. of Fig. 6 with the parts, advancedtoward a; new position;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section view-of the inven: ti n, e sectio ei evtaken-along ine 75 f Fig. 6.; n

Fi 6. is a fragm ntary e evat on i wl n rttyinseetion o the nyti t t d c,

of; th eepa ts of th op a g th Refe ing to the drawin s a pa n r l el metal tes 20 nd 2 ave s between them four electric switches 24, 2 8 and 3. nnysnita e ee. -c t3.. n ss ns;thto sh he e 3e and the a in s. 15-, the ewi ohes thee-ed the bottom late 2,. ma e m lo ed, to se e he l es and swi eh sl n fi e relat n, In h m o he nvention. illus at d, th sw he 6 1 an 30 are. switc es, wh c th operetedhy a ery s t dee e of m em nt o heir o e at n memb rs ie- 2. 2], 29, 3.!- Such. switche te se orm no art of the pre en nv t n. and therefore no detailed descr pti n f e. structure nd o era on nee e iven G ne all su 1 switche ar ho sed in teot ns lato pr m tic 1 or different hat th moy be normal y o en 91'. n ma c os oro he wi e. Suc switch are m n made both ays. a d also! m: m nl l sed in. both, ac uated ahdenaotuet d position.

For o e at ng t e. switches 2 25., 25s and 39 a spindle 42 carrying earn discs 35, e1 39A! which otat e ith. is mo ntedin hearing pe tures. n he ates 20. and? 2 etween. th wo stacks. f S hes 24, 25 and 2t 39, T e diss s, m y

be s ped from eh et nsula onw e or re. g p ts, fo e amp e 354 tie and may be pac d and o at d a ong the spinde y nsu letine spacing. ashe s so that he hi points f the c is s 35, ,1, 33 and will. no i e orde or s uenc enga e the switoh. e o s 5 '1 29a e! re pecti ely to actuate their individual switches,

f de one r mo e o the d et e p d h wo high points. s operate o of the w t es b en aging the operatin me e s o b th itch s-e I Wil be eadi und ood by h se kill d nth art hat the order of operation and tile numbe Qf times 9118i: a tt o rsw hes 24 and 25. a d 3t and 31.

t e used o perate by the one eoehls our:

e r n t h a r determ ed ill depend upon the conditions and circumstances required for its use in anyparticular circuit. 4

Although in the form of the invention i l-ustrated, the cam discs are maintained in position axially upon the spindle 42 by stacks (if-small insulating washers or discs 44, obviously the cams and spacers might bemolded as one part if a oneepiece construction were desired For manually.- operating the spindle 42 and thereby causing rotation of the cam discs, a handle 46 may be provided on the end of the spindle. From the foregoing it will be obvious that upon turning the handle 48 the switches will be caused to operate, by rotation of the several cam discs, in a predetermined sequence to carry out a program.

In order to insure that the program is carried out according to the predetermined plan or sequence and also to insure that if the program is not carried out completely, the switch spindle and parts carried thereby will return to the position from which the spindle was started on its turning movement, I have provided a positionmaintaining mechanism on the bottom or outside of the plate 22. This mechanism is operated by and in part mounted upon an extension of the spindle 42 beyond the bottom or outside surface of the plate 22.

An operating member, designated generally by the numeral 50, is stamped from sheet metal into substantially U-shape, as best shown in Fig. 8, with one plate 52 thereof lying against the bottom surface of the mounting plate 22 and sliding thereover as the switch spindle is rotated. The other or opposite side plate 54 of the member 50 comprises a central disc porton from which radial extensions 56 and 58 are bent up parallel to each other to receive a bifurcated key or securing member 48, one end of which extends through a rectangular opening 51 stamped in the extension 56 while the other or bifurcated end has its tines extending through a pair of openings 59 stamped in the opposite extension 58. The bifurcations of the key embrace the end of the spindle 42 and fit into flats cut in opposite sides of the spindle 42 near its end. Both side plates of the operating member 50 are apertured to receive the spindle on which the operating member 50 is non-rotatably mounted.

Between the plates 52 and 54 of the operating member 50 is located a spring cage member (designated generally by the numeral 69) which is stamped from sheet metal and bent into U-shape, in the form best illustrated in Fig. 9. One side plate 62 of the member 60 is in the form of a disc having a central aperture for the passage of the spindle 42. The other or opposite side plate 64 of the member 60 is also in disc form with a wide radial extension provid ng shoulders 65 and 51 for engagement with a s iding latch member (designated generally by the numeral 19) as will hereinafter be more fully described.

Between the plates 62 and 54 of the spring cage member 59 there is a spiral spring 8!! which has radially extending ends 82 and 84 embracing and engaging the opposite sides of the U or connecting portions of both the spring cage member 60 and the operating member 50. The spring ends thus tend to maintain the U-portions in register.

The latch 70 may be stamped from sheet metal into the form best illustrated in Fig. and it may comprise a flat plate portion 72 lying upon and slidable over the outer or bottom surface of the late 22. The latch is slidably held by pins 18, 18' which pass through elongated apertures 13, 14 of the member 10. An arcuate bar portion is bent up perpendicular to the surface of the member 10 at one edge in position to have its ends engaged by one shoulder or the other 65 or 61 of extension 66 of the spring cage member 60 and to thus hold that member against rotation. To press the latch 10 toward the cage member 60 so that the latch bar 15 will normally be in position to be engaged by one or the other of the shoulders 65, 6'! of the cage extension, a. wire spring H is wound around the pins I8, 18 with its midportion engaging the back of the latch bar 15.

In order to move the latch 10 and disengage latch bar 15 from whichever of the shoulders 65 or 81 it is then engaged with, cam surfaces 53 and 55 are formed on the plate 52 of the operating member and cam surfaces 15 and H are formed on the inner surfaces of opposite end portions of the latch member 10, in position {or the cam surface 53 of the operating member to press against cam surface 16 of the latch when the operating member is moved counterclockwise from the position of Fig. 4, or for the cam surface to press against cam surface 11 when the operating member is moved from the position of Fig. 5 into the position of Fig. 4, as more fully explained below.

Operation.The extension 66 on the member lies on one side or the other of the arcuate latch bar 15 when the parts are at rest. Assuming the parts in the position of Fig. 3, when the operating member 50 is rotated by turning the spindle 42 counterclockwise, the U-portion 5| of that member engaging the end 84 of the spring will stress the spring still further (the spring being initially provided with some tension or stress) until the parts are in the position of Fig. 4. In the meantime, the spring cage member 50 has been held stationary by its shoulder 61 engaging the arcuate latch bar 15.

Thereupon the cam portion 53 of the operating member 50 engages the cam portion 16 of the latch member 10 moving member '10 and with it the arcuate latch bar 15 against the urge of spring H away from shoulder 51 of the member 50. This releases the member 60. Since at that time the other end 82 of the spring 80 is urging the spring cage member 60 counterclockwise (in Fig. 4) the force of the spring will cause the spring cage member to rotate in counterclockwise direction until the U-portion of the cage member 60 is in register with the U-portion of the operating member 50 with the ends of the spring 80 on opposite sides of these U-portions, in which position the parts will be at rest and in equilibrium.

It is not possible to move the spindle 42 further in counterclockwise direction from this new position because the cam portion 53 of the operating member 50 abuts the cam portion 15 of the latch member to prevent movement (see Fig. '7)

From the new position just described the parts can be reversely rotated with an action just opposite of that described. Thus, the clockwise rotation of the operating spindle will cause clockwise movement of the operating member 50 causing its U-portion to engage the end 82 of the spring while the spring cage member remains stationary due to the engagement of shoulder with the arcuate latch 15. Ultimately cam surface 55 of the operating member will engage the cam surface 11 of the latch member 10 and will move the arcuate latch bar 15 out of engagement with the shoulder 55 of the spring cage member for clockwise rotation under the urge of the spring, whereupon the parts will return to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. Further rotation in a clockwise direction is prevented by the cam surface 55 on the operating member 50 engaging the cam surface 11 on the latch member.

It may be readily understood from the foregoing that each rotation of the spindle 42 will cause conjoint rotation of the operating cam discs 35', 31; 39 and. and operation of the switches.- 24', 26, and 30according to the predetermined sequence; but unless. the sequence is completed, the spring 80 will causereverse rotation of the spindle -42 as soon as the handle 46 is released. Therefore the spindle will return to the position from which it was started on the rotating movement, and the one or more of theswitches which may have been operated by the cam discs will be released. or again operated to dlsestablish the conditions which had been established by the partial completion of the sequence. Thus the switch will be back in its initial or starting position. On a new start of rotation, the spindle 42 will start again from the beginning of its sequence. If the sequence is completed then the mechanism beneath plate 22 will have operated in the manner above described and will remain at rest in a new position at the end of the sequence to hold the operating spindle there.

In similar manner on reverse rotation of the operating spindle, complete reversal will be necessary before the condition established by the operation of the switches 24, 26, 28 and 30 will be maintained. Only upon completion of the series, in forward or in reverse order as the case may be, is the mechanism beneath plate 22 operatedin the manner above described; and only upon such operation can the parts remain stationary after return to their originalposition, for example the position of Fig. 3.

The spindle 42 may beoperated at any desired rate or may be held in a partially completed positionby hand in case it is desired to maintain the conditions established by partial completion of the sequence temporari y. However, if such temporary hand control is released the device will immediately return to its initial position. Thus, it is necessary after such momentary slowing down or holding of the switch in a partially completed sequential position that the remainder of thesequence be completed in the manner describedbefore the parts may be maintained in a stationary position.

Many modifications within the scope of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art and therefore I do not limit my invention to the speciiic form or embodiment of the invention herein disclosed.- I

I claim:

1. .An electric switch comprising a rotary spindie, a plurality of switch contacts operated in a predetermined sequence as said spindle is turned, spring means operable to return the spindle to its starting position if the sequence is not completed, and means including said spring means operable on completion of operation of said contacts through said sequence to maintain the spindle in sequence-completed position.

2. An electric switch comprising a rotary spindle, a plurality of switch contacts operated in a predetermined sequence as said spindle is turned, spring means operable to return the spindle. to its starting position if the sequence is notcompleted, and means including saidspring means operable on completion of operation of said contacts through said sequence to maintain the spindle in sequence-completed position, said spindle being operable in reverse direction from said sequence completed position to operate said contacts in reversed sequence, and said spring means acting to return said spindle to sequence-oompleted position it said reverse-sequence is not completed, said maintaining means operating on completion of saidreversc-sequence to maintain-its initial, poolquential operation, and latching-means; released upon the completion of said sequentialv operation of, said plurality of contacts and thereupon permittingv maintaining means to move into a new:

sequence-completed position for maintaining said. spindle in said new position.

4. An electric switch comprising a rotary spindle, a plurality of switch contacts operated in predetermined sequence as said spindle is,

turned, meansto manually operate said; spindle,

means tending to maintain said spindle in a stationary starting, position, said, maintaining means moving into a'sequence-completed position, after, a predetermined movement of said manually operated means, and latching means'preventing saidmaintaining means from taking said sequence-completed position until the manually operated means has operated said; plurality of switch contacts and completed; said predeter: mined movement.

5. An electric, switch. comprising a; rotary. spindla, a plurality of switch contacts operated. in predetermined, sequence as said splndl is turned, means to manually operate said spindle, means. tending to maintain said spindle in a stationary sequence-starting, position, said main taining means moving into aco-mpleted. position after a predeterminedmovement of, said manually operated means, and latching means preventing said maintaining meansfrom taking said sequence-completed position until the manually operated'means has operated said plurality of switch, contacts and completed saidpredetermined movement, said latching means being released by said manually operated means after said predetermined movement;

6. An electric switch comprising a rotary spindle. a plurality of switch contactsoperated in: predetermin d seque ce, s a d sp ndleis turned. meansv to manually operate said spindle, means including a spring biasing andv tending to maintain said spindle in a stationary sequencestarting position, said maintaining meansmoving into a sequence-completed position after a predetermined movement of said manually operated means, and latching means preventing said maintaining. means from taking saidsequence completed position until the manually operated meanshas operated said plurality .015 switch con tacts and completed said predetermined move ment.

'7. An electric switch comprising a rotary spindle, a. plurality of switch. contacts operated in predeterminedsequence as said spindl is turned, means to manually operate. said spindle. means tending to maintain aidspindl stationary startin position, said, lllaintaimng means moving into a sequence completed-position after a: predetermined movement of said manually operated means, and latching means pre-a venting said maintaining means from taking said sequence-completed positionuntil the, manu-ally operated means has operated said plurality of switch contacts and completed said predetermined movemenhfisaid manually operable it means being. operable-inclookwise, and counter-.

clockwise directions from one or the other of said sequence-starting or sequencewompleted positions to complete the sequence in forward or reverse directions.

8. In an electric switch, switching means comprising a plurality of switch contacts, means including a rotary shaft for manually operating said contacts in a predetermined order, in combination with means tending to maintain said operating means in sequence-starting position, and means to return said operating means to said position if the sequenc is not completed, and means to hold said operating means in sequence-completed position on completion of the sequence.

9. In an electric switch, switching means comprising a plurality of switch contacts, means including a rotary shaft for manually operating said contacts in a predetermined order, in combination with mechanism tending to maintain said operating means in sequence-starting position, to return said operating means to said position if the sequence is not completed and to hold said Operating means in sequence-completed position on completion of the sequence, said mechanism comprising an operating member moving conjointly with said shaft, spring means tensioned by movement of said operating mem her, a movable member affording one anchor for said spring means, latching means holding said anchor member, said latching means being released by said operating member on completion of the sequence.

10. In an electric switch, switching means comprising a plurality of switch contacts, means including a rotary shaft for manually operating said contacts in a predetermined order, in combination with mechanism tending to maintain said operating means in sequence-starting position, and to return said operating means to said position if the sequence is not completed, and to hold said operating means in sequencecompleted position on completion of the sequence, said mechanism comprising an operating member moving conjointly with said shaft, spring means tensioned by movement of said operating member, a movable member affording one anchor for said spring means, latching means holding said anchor member, rotation of said operating member in one direction causing release of said latching means on completion of the sequence and causing release of said latching means on completion of reverse sequence when said operating member is rotated in the reverse direction.

11. In an electric switch, switching means comprising a plurality of switch contacts, means including a rotary shaft for manually operating said contacts in a predetermined order, in combination with mechanism tending to maintain said operating means in sequence-starting position, to return said operating means to said position if the sequence is not completed and to hold said operating means in sequence-completed position on completion of the sequence, said mechanism comprising spring means, a pair of rotary members affording anchors for the ends of said spring means, one of said members moving in direct response to movement of said manual operating means, a latch member biased in position to hold the other of said pair, said latch member being engaged and moved from said holding position by the first of said pair on completion of the sequential operation.

'12. In an electric switch, switching means comprising a plurality of switch contacts, means including a. rotary shaft for manually operating said contacts in a predetermined order, in combination with mechanism tending to maintain said operating means in sequence-starting position, to return said operating means to said position if the sequence is not completed and to hold said operating means in sequence-completed position on completion of the sequence, said mechanism comprising spring means, a pair of rotary members affording anchors for the ends of said spring means, one of said members moving in direct response to movement of said manual operating means, a latch member biased in position to hold the other of said pair, said latch member being engaged and moved from said holding position by the first of said pair on completion of the sequential operation, said spring means tending to return said operating means to sequence-starting position until completion of the sequence, and operating upon such completion to maintain said pair in sequence-completed position.

13. In an electric switch, switching means comprising a plurality of switch contacts, means including a rotary shaft for manually operating said contacts in a predetermined order, in combination with mechanism tending to maintain said operating means in sequence-starting position, to return said operating means to said position if the sequence is not completed and to hold said operating means in sequence-completed position on completion of the sequence, said mechanism comprising spring means, an operating member having an arm engaged on opposite sides by the ends of said spring means, a spring anchor member having an arm engaged on opposite sides by said spring ends and normally maintained thereby in register with said first arm, a slidable latch member biased to restrain movement of said anchor member during movement of the operating member toward sequence-completed position, said latch member and said operating member having cam surfaces engaging at the completion of the sequence to release said anchor member and bring its arm into register with said operating arm in sequencecompleted position.

14. In an electric switch, switching means comprising a plurality of switch contacts, means including a rotary shaft for manually operatng said contacts in a predetermined order, in combination with mechanism tendingto maintain said operating means in sequence-starting position, to return said operating means to said position if the sequence is not completed and to hold said operating means in sequence-completed position on completion of the sequence, said mechanism comprising spring means, an operating member having an arm engaged on opposite sides by the ends of said spring means, a spring anchor member having an arm engaged on opposite sides by said spring ends and normally maintained thereby in register with said first arm, a slidable latch member biased to restrain movement of said anchor member during movement of the operating member toward sequence-completed position, said latch member and said operating member having cam surfaces engaging at the completion of the sequence to release said anchor member and bring its arm into register with said operating arm in sequence-completed position, said operatingmember being operable in one direction to complete the sequence and to cause movement of the spring and anchor members into sequencecompleted position and operable in reverse direction to rererse the sequence and cause movement REFERENCES CITED of the spring and anchor members and contacts 1 into Sequence starting position. fil'gl'tfi? irlrllilgwlstgerrteferences are of record 1n the 15. An electric switch as claimed in claim 11 p wherein the pair of rotary members, spring means 5 I UNITED STATES PATENTS and latch member are constructed and arranged Number to operate in both forward and reverse directions 677 269 g g; 81901 in the same manner.

16. An electric switch as claimed in claim 12 ysf gg ES; g wherein the pair of rotary members, spring means 10 1705774 Lloyd 1929 and latch member are constructed and arranged 2291517 Wolff i, 1942 to operate in both forward and reverse directions 2462777 Feb 1949 in the same manner.

DAVID W. JOHNSON. 

